GNDU hosts workshop

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) organised a workshop on 'Promoting Extramural Research in Punjab' at its seminar hall here on Tuesday.

The workshop was organised by the department of science and technology in association with Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh.

In his inaugural address, vice-chancellor AS Brar said, "Punjab was the leading state in education a few years ago, but this is matter of concern that now we are lagging behind in this sector."

Brar said research mostly delivered results in favour of humanity, but it also created imbalance. He said if research solved one problem, at the same time it also resulted in nine more problems.

He said that nature cycle should not be disturbed during new discoveries and research and stressed that clinical waste should be managed properly instead of putting them in sewerage.He exhorted the students to involve in research with complete dedication and also try to solve the problems created after the research. He said they should write good proposals to excel in their fields.

KS Bath, principal scientific officer (PSO), apprised the audience of various schemes introduced by the depratment of science and technology and the council at the state level.

He talked about the various science popularisation programmes, including pollution, status reports, simulation modelling and energy efficiency programmes. He outlined the thrust areas pertaining to health sectors (cancer and premature ageing in Malwa belt), gender issues and woman and child welfare programmes.

Dapinder Bakshi, principal scientific officer (PSO), Biotech Division, set the mandate of future research under a number of projects such as extramural projects, collaborative projects, demonstration projects and hands on training projects.

Gurmahinder Singh, PSO, environment and IPR department, highlighted the problem of invasive species like water hyacinth and also expressed concern over the depleting roadside trees like kikar in Punjab.

In the second technical session, Prof Gurcharan Kaur, head, department of biotechnology, GNDU, spoke on the advances made my biotechnology in human health care and disease therapy in recent years.